Chapter Six

River:

Agnar paced the river bank where they had made camp temporarily. They were on the move. He wanted to get back to his home but he needed to ensure the threat was contained. There was rumors that a pack was sitting just south of the river. He had grown tired of this back and forth battle between packs. Most stayed away from him but every now and then an occasional Alpha would think he was a badass and come at his pack. With no king on the throne the target on his back has gotten bigger. The packs in the nation were afraid of him. They were either pledging their allegiance to him or forming one against him. When the first bits of rumors came about that he should go for the throne, he laughed at them. He had no interest in being king. It would be too much of a headache. It was more responsibility than he wanted.

Then the attacks started happening. The smaller packs didn't exist anymore. The remainders sought refuge in the large packs. When they attacked Linc’s pack and killed him, that's when Agnar decided enough was enough. He was down with the way the wolf world was. Linc was his best friend and if they had been in the same pack he would have asked Linc to be his beta. The fall of the Winter Moon pack angered Agnar and that's when he began making moves to take the throne. 

He now was Alpha to the largest known pack. He began taking in warriors from the packs that did not have Alpha’s any longer. He ensured they pledged loyalty and if there was the slightest bit of questioning it he killed them. There was no room in this world for weakness and uncertainty.  He wandered over the river bank, he had always found water relaxing and calming. He found himself staring down into watching the rapid current make small waves over the river rocks. Soon hopefully all this will be over. Alpha Derek was the only real threat these days. He had sent scouts to see if it was Derek encroaching towards them. 

“Alpha.”  Logan's voice got his attention, he was standing just where the tree’s broke away to expose the river. 

“Go ahead.” Agnar said looking from Logan to back to the river, he could tell by the color of Logan’s hazel eyes that the news wasn't good,his eyes always seemed to go to a dark gray when he had bad news. When things were lighter he would tease him about it. Agnar had known Logan just as long as he had new Linc. He gritted his teeth as he heard Logan exhale.

“It’s Derek. Something or someone has worked him up. His whole camp site was set on fire. There's nothing of it left. When we got there there were charcoal crumbles and ash where the tents had been set up. They didn't even bother to put the fire out. We found five bodies. They were killed umm..brutally.” Logan said, trying to find the right word to describe it.

“Brutally?” Agnar asked, turning around his brows twisting as if asking what could be so brutal, what was worse than what he had seen before.

“Um one man had his, his…

“His what Logan.” Agnar snapped.

“His junk ripped off. There was another body that had its head removed after death too.” Logan said quickly, shrugging his shoulders.

“You think some other pack was sending a message to Derek?” Agnar asked, a little impressed.

“He has enemies everywhere. He runs through packs killing, stealing, and taking whatever and whoever he wants. He tortures and no one is off limits.” Logan said bitterly, his voice twisting as if he wanted to vomit even talking about Derek.

“Who would have the balls to do that?” Agnar said, looking back down into the river. 

“I don't know someone who didn't care if their death warrant was signed. Someone who had nothing to lose.I doubt anyone with a pack would risk their pack pulling something like that.” Logan thought to himself. 

“All of it seems personal. The dismembering, the after death beheading. Evening burning the campsite to the ground. Which pack has he attacked last?” Agnar asked quietly.

“Last  I heard the Emerald Woods pack was attacked. He killed everyone. Before that it was the Moon River.” Logan said, trying to recall, moon river actually joined with them a few weeks back.

Most of them are fueled by revenge and want to see Derek suffer. Agnar shook his head, Emerald woods was mostly elderly there was no one capable. Moon River was with him unless one had gone rogue when he heard Derek was close. 

“Logan, go see if anyone is missing that was part of the Moon River pack.” Agnar orders quietly.

“Yes Alpha. And if i find out someone is/” Logan asked curiously. 

‘Bring them to me. “ Agnar said quickly he glanced at Logan to see if he understood but something out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention. 

A flash of gold peeked over a wave from the river water. The gold color disappeared beneath the surface and swirled around a river rock. Agnar stepped into the river trying to see what this was. 

“Alpha?” Logan asked, squinting trying to see what had his Alpha’s attention. 

Agnar waved him off ignoring the tone in his voice. He stepped further into the water. His eyes scanned the river once more. He spotted it. The gold flash was in fact hair. The hair was wrapped around a large river rock, holding on for dear life. He quickly realized that there was a person attached to it. They were fading in and out of consciousness as they tried to hold on. 

“Nathan.” Agnar said to Logan as he rushed into the river.

“Nathan?” Logan repeated and then watched his Alpha dash into the water. 

His eyes spotted what his Alpha was running for. There was someone hurt. 

“Shit.” Logan said out loud.

“Nathan, come to the river bank now. Someone’s hurt.” Logan mind linked Nathan, he was the pack's head medical person.

‘On my way.” Nathan mindlinked back quickly.

Logan started into the water after Agnar worried that this might be some type of trap from Derek. Or even the pack that had burned Derek’s campsite to the ground. No one could be trusted. 

The water was freezing and the coldness was the kind that settled into your bones. Agnar moved quickly fighting against the pulling and tugging of the current. The river was strong and fast but Agnar knew he was stronger and faster. He was to the rock in no time.  He bent down to study the person and realized it was a woman. He almost lost his footing seeing her. The blond hair was once in a braid and was now sprawled out around her. He could tell because the very top of her hair was still braided. He gritted his teeth, not sure what to do. He watched her for a minute, maybe he should just let her slip away and go. This might turn into more of a problem if he took her in, then letting the river take her. He watches her grip get weak and her hands begin to slip. 

Just hang on. She thought her head was spinning, she couldn't even tell if she was awake or asleep. She was dizzy, cold and tired but she knew she needed to hold on. Was someone near her? A scent invaded her nose and her blue eyes fluttered open. She saw an enormous man standing over the rock she was holding on to for dear life. His dark chocolate eyes burned into her. She went to say something but felt another wave of exhaustion. The world was about to go black again.

“No.” She mumbled as it washed over her. 

He felt his chest tighten as her bright blue eyes locked with his. He felt his wolf stir inside of him. It was a different feeling, one he did not recognize. He was confused by why she said No. Maybe she recognized him. It was a reaction a lot of people had lately. He was still torn between saving her and letting her float away. Her eyes fluttered open once more and then closed. Her hand let go of the rock and she slipped off. The river begins to take her away.

He didn't even have time to think his body just reacted. Before he could process what he was doing he handed her in his arms. Her naked body was pressed against his shirt as he turned and began carrying her out of the water. Logan had started into the water and stopped abruptly as he saw Agnar carrying a naked woman out of the river.

“What the hell is that?” Logan asked before he could stop the words from escaping his mouth.

“What does it look like?” Agnar snapped while walking by him.

“Shit. Is she naked?…is there anymore?” Logan chuckled looking back at the river. 

“Shut up.” Agnar growled an overwhelming need to protect the woman in his arms washed over him. 

“Hey i;m just saying this brings a whole new meaning to fishing. “ Logan chuckled following  Agnar.

“Logan shut your mouth before I make you.” Agnar growled, turning quickly to glare at him.

“Ok..Sorry.” Logan apologized quickly.

“Where’s Nathan?” He snapped once more.

“Here Alpha.” Nathan said, rushing forward from out of the trees. 

Nathan ran over and touched her wrist. She had a pulse and it was slow. She was too cold. 

“Bring her this way, her body temperature is too low. If she stays cold any longer she will die.” Nathan said shortly going to take her from Agnar.

Agnar growled at Nathan who retracted his hand quickly. He studied his alpha for a second before putting his hands away from the girl and nodding for Agnar to follow him. Agnar surprised himself with his quick shift in mood but he didn’t acknowledge it as he began to follow Nathan.